The Smiley Smile Message Board

Brian has been lauded, and rightly so, for his innovative use of what can only be described as 'farty synth' on 15 BO and BBLY... but did he get the idea from Carl's "Long Promised Road" ? It's a synth. And it farts.  ;D

Or perhaps they both had a copy of Switched-On Bach?

Dude, I am SO HAPPY to read what you wrote... this goes hand in hand with the BW88 thread.  Brian and synth's were made for each other. Yes Brian mastered the 1960's, but his creative soul was ready for new instrumentation that realized itself in B's lifetime with the amazing synthensizer.... He made it fart because he farted (regardless if he heard it esewhere, he made it his own)....

One of the most important records of '77 was Donna Summers "I Feel Love", which, and I could be wrong here, was one of the first pop songs to be fully synthesized, and spawned modern day dance music. It appears that the "Love You" album, heavily synth laden, was released a month before this important single. Could it be that Brian inadvertently invented dance music? If so, then I'm off...........

If so, then I must have a very sharp word with him.   >:(

I think Giorgio Moroerder had been working towards that for a while, actually,.

Brian was waaaayyy ahead of all that... but he didn't hear dance repetitive music, he heard rock n' roll. The synth was like a new form of oil paint to him. The sounds in his brain were able to make a bit more immediate sense with the experimental synth, as opposed to the same old 1960's sound.... that is why LY and BW88 kick so much ass... BW88's production aside, it's synth's still rock, and would fart a whole lot more if not left up to all the cooks in the kitchen....

Child of Winter was 1974 and the synths are farting away in the background on that.

Hell yeah they are!!!   :rock


What a Great Song...it has everything... structure, meaning, relevance, voice reality (meaning appropriate timbre) and pure Christmas soul....  with the Farting Synthy to boot.. now we're talking. Let's go on with why this topic really matters in the grand scheme of things... why we need more ROCK on this tour and less CROCK...

Brilliant theory - can we build on it and add the synth work Carl did on Mt Vernon to the mix?

Speaking of Farty Synths - here is the Beach Boys Britain band of the same name and featuring your very own AGD and Rob Dean. The band is headed up by Sean Macreavy and band members include the lovely Synthesiser Patel and Mr Bass Farty Synth himself: the wonderful Jimmy Hughes....and yes, that's me, sporting AGD's infamous black hat.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Z7rK2RUz4&feature=related

Synth bass was a long-established technique that had been in the BBs rep since the early 70s. In fact, there's a Smile connection - the bass part in Brian's part of the 71 SU is done on a Moog (a 15 series modular, I think, but others will correct me I'm sure).

Loads of bands were doing this to 'fatten up' the bass. The only difference between that and the 'farty synth' sound is the position of the attack in the adsr (volume envelope - tends to be slower for swelling, subtle bass tones and faster for more aggressive bass sounds) and the cut-off for the filter (lower for mellower tones, higher for more aggressive). The mid/late 70s also saw the popularisation of sequencing, which is used so prominently by Moroder. Again, this was not new, as electronic musicians had versions of sequences (including tape loops etc.) since the late 60s. It was new for pop to a certain extent. But of course, Pink Floyd was doing that by the early 70s, so depending on whether one considers that 'pop' in any way...

But yeah, the BBs were definitely right up to speed on electronic keyboards. The idea for custom mellotron tapes for the drips on CCW (which never actually materialised, I remember Mr. Desper reporting, despite field recordings taking place) was pretty hip. They also used combo organs (Bruce used a Farfisa compact) for touring quite early on, there was that wacky Baldwin, and Mike used the Tannerin (a pitch-ribbon controlled oscillator giving theremin-like tones) live for GV.

...oh, the drips on CCW on SF were eventually done on a synth - again, probably the 15-series Moog. It's done by pushing the filter into self-oscillation, and controlling its frequency with the adsr envelope to get that 'blooping' sound.   

Once more, beg to differ but according to SWD when I interviewed him back in 1985, the tapes were prepared and installed in a Chamberlain during the Smile era. Brian played it for maybe ten minutes, said it was nice, and promptly forgot about it.

Brian should play farty synth at the reunion. :hat

Woah! AGD has a killer singing voice!

And here is some more , as always listen to on headphones in the dark  8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Ljuo5-iWw&feature=related

Good Time / Honkin' / Ding Dang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Ljuo5-iWw&feature=related

I was going to compliment The Farty Synths, but then they called "Ding Dang" the worst BB song ever as they proceeded to butcher Brian's piano part.

HOW DARE THEY

Blame that on Sean Mac  :-D

Andrew does a killer 'gruff' Brian.

I think it was a Wilson thing. Listen to POB, most of it recorded before Love You...it has synths all over it, including really nasty deep speaker rattling distorted bass synth. Also stuff like River Song and Holy Man, going back to 74/75 features major synth.

Right - I do remember that cropping up on the ol' Smile Shop board at some point. My bad.

I'm gutted I didn't know about the Love You thing in East Kilbride, I would've loved to be there. Andrew does indeed have a great voice, Rob's take on Dennis is amazing too!

Yup - been known to drop a fully-grown bull elephant at 100 paces.  ;D

Oh, that was such fun to err..."sing" and  getting our "ooo"s,  "dings" and "dangs" all in the right places was an achievement in itself !  I am so glad you like it, Dada! :love

Did you listen to the whole thing, Craig?  it was not perfect, by any means; but it was LIVE and it was FUN. I feel we did the closing harmonies (Sean Macreavy's idea) on "Solar System" much better in Lutterworth, though...

Speaking of "Love You" reminds me of the time when (pardon the name drop, but it's true!) we were having dinner with Billy Hinsche and Jeffery Foskett and Jeffrey turned to AGD and asked him to explain why the fans so loved "Love You"!

Yeah I loved it Val! I think if it had been perfect you would have lost the whole essence of the album, it's the little imperfections that give the whole thing it's charm. I've heard before Jeff isn't a fan of the album, it does seem to be a bit like marmite amongst the fans. :lol What did AGD say to him?

It's beautifully sincere and joyous cover versions like these that re-freshen the ears and make us listen anew what lies beneath the originals. The energetic and powerful drumming especially lifts up the songs into a rock attack, the off kilter lead vox perfectly apropos, the harmonies provide the Beach Boy bedding. Immensely charming.

If the theory is that Brian took his influence from Carl on Long Promised Road, in the way the synths were used on a Beach Boys recording, then I'd say that is a great possibility.

If the theory is that Brian through Carl were innovators in the way they played those synths *in general* or in music history, I'd disagree. Going back to the late 60's, there were specific innovators and specific records - some novelty, some 'serious' - which were experimenting with the Moog and using it for the same kind of sounds and musical purposes as Brian (and Carl).

Among the many names: Paul Beaver and Bernie Krause with "The Zodiac", Keith Emerson with ELP, Yes, Bernie Worrell (one of the undisputed masters of Moog/MiniMoog bass playing in the 70's), Sun Ra, the band Hot Butter with the novelty hit "Popcorn"...etc.

But one of the pioneers, one of the first to have a hit record (The Minotaur) using a Moog in similar ways as the Love You album, was Dick Hyman. This is his version of a James Brown song, recorded in 1969, and if you just sample various bars of music from this you'd be tapping into many examples of what dance music would be based on a few decades later.

"Give It Up Or Turn It Loose" 1969:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyW_VkOTo2k (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyW_VkOTo2k)

Brian's synth lines and sounds were great, they're classic, but they're not too far removed from what was already being done on Moog and MiniMoog synths into the 70's.

Holy crap, this is awesome! Wow. Great job fellas!  :3d

Perhaps it went along these lines - Carl starts using the synth as a key studio component; Surf's Up (which contains are select farts) and Holland (full of farts) as great examples, + Jon Stebbins notes Dennis's synth use on POB.  (This thread is sounding like "bonus tracks" from a BB blog).

I assume Brian worked pretty closely with Carl (in the studio) on 15, Adult Child and Love You; so I think it would be less about Carl's early influence and more Carl's specific direction of Brian, mid '70s.

Whatever happened to the Farty Synths - the world was surely their oyster...

Don't forget the encore song ( Just Once In My Life ), which really should have been on Love You - Again to be played very loud  8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwgZm0ZWdJ0

I'd say Brian was first, as he was always after these types of sounds even before the synth was in vogue, i.e. the use of bass harmonica and fuzz tone in the mid-late '60s.

That's immense! I like to think of that song as a part of Love You rather than 15BO's aswell.

This is key, I think. Brian likes a particular kind of big bass sound. The Moog was ultimately a more convenient way to produce that sound.

Brian was first in what? If it's using a MiniMoog or whatever to record a bassline, he's got quite a line of musicians in front of him, dating back to 1970. And that's just the MiniMoog - as that Dick Hyman clip I posted tonight is from 1969, I'd say Brian wasn't near the first.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what exactly it is Brian is being credited as "first" in doing...because his playing Moog is cool but it's not pioneering or groundbreaking in rock music, if that's the right wording.  :)

Who coined the term "farty synths"? Was it someone on PSML or Green Mansions?

ha, sorry for the lack of clarity ...

Brian was first in introducing this sound in the group, not Carl.

All joking aside, you NAILED Solar System.  ;D

Don't forget the 'good' version of Shortenin' Bread...that was done in 1973!


andrew--- that was tight.

My Solution had them and that was 1970 so even though it was done in a silly context they are there.

It was either yours truly, or (more likely) SeanyMac. Time has blurred the detail. However, I'm proud to state that it was my idea to add "JOIML". Which Sean just nailed, as we all knew he would.

Doing that gig may have been one of the highest points of my entire BB fandom: I was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY out of both my league and comfort zone, but the mere presence of all the fine musos - and friends - onstage conspired to make me up my game and not make a complete arse of myself in front of the assembled fans (and the paying public - it wasn't a closed fan show). The whole thing was just a complete blast.

Yes, he did, Jay, most certainly.   I think all the vocals for that performance were pretty "spot on"...even I didn't cringe (too much) at my mimicry of dear Marilyn, even to the point of American pronunciations,  for which my muso. non BB pals took the proverbial of, later!

And to AGD, Sean,. Rob,  Synthesiser, Paul, Jimmy, Daniel and Alex, plus  Stephen & Elaine - great kudos for all the hard work and care - but mostly the fun we had!

Surprise to me was the raw power of Honkin' Down The Highway.
I listened this morning twice to your whole Love You performance + Just Once In My Life
The first song a little shaky (backing vocals / warming up), but all the rest until the end: great, great music!

Just Once In My Life was the perfect last song, and I was even hypnotised by the version of Love Is A Woman ;)

This is an interesting side-note: 44 years ago, Brian didn't even know what the word synthesizer meant!


Interviewer: "The synthesizer..."
BRIAN WILSON: "I have not heard of that."
Interviewer: "It's an electronic instrument that creates sound, just pure sound…"


http://rootstrata.com/rootblog/?p=6313

I couldn't find another playlist, so I made one

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5D132E6B746CC370 (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5D132E6B746CC370)


Tracks:
1."Let Us Go On This Way"  2."Roller Skating Child"   3."Mona"                            

4."Johnny Carson"

5."Good Time"   6."Honkin' Down the Highway"    7."Ding Dang"

(Side two)
1."Solar System"  2."The Night Was So Young"   3."I'll Bet He's Nice"    4."Let's Put Our Hearts Together"

5."I Wanna Pick You Up"    6."Airplane"    7."Love Is a Woman"

bonus: "Just Once In My Life"

That Sean Macreavy is a good man. He's very talented and on a personal level a real good guy.

Andrew & Val, you guys did a better a job of performing the Love You songs than the Beach Boys did back in 77 & 78. This is a lot of fun to watch and listen to. I've only watched side one and the first two songs on side two, so looking forward to the rest of the show. Andrew, you had Brian down pat on Solar System.

I think it was slightly better when I did it a few months earlier in a blue bathrobe.  :)

Who's the good lookin' chick with the hat?  Is she married?

I dunno about Sean Macreavy, but I did once hear that Brian--when buying his first synth--test-played a large number of them supplied by "an Irish-accented fellow" before actually buying the 239th one he tried.

Supposedly the Irish guy himself persuaded him to stop at #239 and just buy it.

Why not try just one more, you ask?

Per the Irish guy: "Because that would be too farty!"

Ahh-hahahahahahahahahaha.

The guy on drums sounds just like Dennis Wilson, eh?

Only sometimes he does , too much drinking and smoking helps....

I have posted this before , 1st song is an original by Seany Mac and the 2nd a clever DW Medley that he devised ( Lead vox by Sean and me ) , live vocals over a backing track , and Sean only gave me a 2 day notice that we were going to do this  :-[ - recorded at the BBB Event last December

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37-0PDi4eiU

Again play loud , it sounds better that way  :lol

That's you, Rob? Damn, I didn't recognize you! You sound just like Dennis, man! Excellent job! This is the first time I've seen this YouTube video and only recognized two blokes and one blokette. Is Francis Greene in there somewhere or he couldn't make it? I know he was on stage at one fan gathering.........another good man.

Yep that is I , Francis wasn't at the BBB Event last December but yes he was on those Love You vids ( and he sure is a top bloke )

Francis is the lovely bloke front stage (left on your screen), playing keyboard, next to Sean Macreavy. A finer gentleman you could not wish to meet. 

Not all our Farty Synths were at our event in December, but our next is already in the making and we hope most, if not all, will be there!

BBB will be in LIVERPOOOL, at the same time as the International Pop Overthrow, precisely: SATURDAY 19TH MAY 2012, when we will be taking over :
The Lomax
34  Cumberland Street,
Liverpool,
L1 6BU

This venue is very close to both the Cavern Club and The Cavern itself; both locations are being used for The International Pop Overthrow. Our “Get Together” will be from 1-6pm and then those that wish to, can go and enjoy the acts offered by the IPO (to be recommended). In fact, several of our bands will also be playing the IPO also, which makes things even more exciting!

This will be a casual get together and hopefully a nice relaxed time to be enjoyed by all, as our musicians play for us, we have a good old singsong, we get to celebrate the Reunion Tour, talk Beach Boys and who knows what can happen on the day!

All welcome,whoever and wherever!

Andrew are you sure it was blue in Lutterworth ?? Not just originally white , but sadly old and mouldy   :lol

My favorite part was possibly the end of I Want To Pick You Up. Those harmonies were done amazingly well.  :)

More proof that the blue bathrobe has magical powers.  :o  8)

Thanks, Jay. It was FUN and I think that came over in the performance!

AGD really DID wear a blue bathrobe for the first performance, in Lutterworth (not sure what happened for East Kilbride...?) and was great as BW, Rob Dean is an amazing DW impersonator (as well as, you may have noticed already, a cracking drummer!) and Sean Macreavy is one of my favourite singers - has always been, since I heard him at a Stomp Convention, with his lyrics he had written for a competition for "Let's Go Away For Awhile". It is on You Tube, if anyone would like to check that out!

Special mention should be given here to bandmate Stephen Fairweather (the guy at the back, behind Francis and I), on lead guitar.  His parts seem to have been mixed down a little, but he also did an amazing job - he was determined to be very faithful to the album - and he was.

What is possibly interesting too is that as we all live in different parts of the country, early rehearsals were done in small groups, with parts recorded for us by Sean (our band leader), so we only got together at Sean's college (somewhere near Birmingham) for a couple of rehearsals - and even then not everyone could make it, as two members came from north of Scotland.

Thanks for the nice comments about IWTPYU, Jay - the ending of SS should haver been as good as that; it certainly was, in Lutterworth, so hey - maybe there is something in that magic blue robe, hmm? :)